Local charity Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) is urging all romantics to think twice before giving their loved one a bunch of imported cut flowers this Valentine’s Day.

Instead the Trust suggests giving a ‘Living Bouquet’ from YDMT – a gift with an environmentally-friendly heart that will help to protect and restore the beautiful living wildflower hay meadows found locally in the Yorkshire Dales and Forest of Bowland.

Traditionally managed wildflower hay meadows are an iconic part of our countryside, but sadly 97% have been lost in the last seventy years making them one of the UK’s most threatened habitats, and putting hundreds of species of native wildflowers and plants, bees, birds and other wildlife at risk.

Melancholy Thistle near Pen-y-ghent by David Sharrod

Since 2006 YDMT has been working closely with farmers and partners to protect, restore and enhance the botanical diversity of more than 700 hectares of degraded hay meadows so far. This represents significant progress, but more still needs to be done to safeguard these iconic landscape features for future generations.

Tanya St. Pierre, YDMT’s Hay Time Project Officer, said:
“For a beautiful floral gift that won’t wilt in a vase, give a Living Bouquet from YDMT and enjoy flowers for a lifetime by helping us to save our precious wildflower meadows.

"These vibrant habitats are teaming with up to 120 species of wildflowers and grasses per field, and are home to many rare species of wildlife; plants like the Globeflower and endangered animals like the Brown Hare. They also provide a vital habitat for bumblebees and other important pollinators.”

You can support this important work by giving a Living Bouquet. Give £25 and YDMT will dedicate a piece of beautiful living hay meadow on your behalf. You will receive a pretty commemorative gift pack, including a personalised certificate and card, a meadow walk guide, and a pack of wildflower seeds sourced sustainably in northern England.